Map With A Different Look at USA's Light Pollution

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NGC7000
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Map With A Different Look at USA's Light Pollution

Unread post by NGC7000 »

This has an interesting take on where and how our light pollution originates beyond population centers, and it's a quick read to understand the map:

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/invisi ... pollution/

Tom
Tom H
"Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world. Science is the highest personification of the nation because that nation will remain the first which carries the furthest the works of thought and intelligence." - Louis Pasteur
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Apollo XX
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Re: Map With A Different Look at USA's Light Pollution

Unread post by Apollo XX »

Interesting article, Tom. Thanks for posting it. Boy, don't we wish that the dark sky map really looked like that, one where you'd have to drive to find light pollution!

I did find the closing paragraphs a bit disconcerting though, and that was where the author said this:

"Though light isn’t toxic or overtly damaging to the natural landscape, it can still have a serious impact on wildlife, as well as blunting the beauty of the night sky.

The good news is that light is one of the easiest forms of pollution to prevent. New technologies and lighting techniques aren’t just good for our night skies, they’re generally more energy efficient as well.

Just as economic incentive lured buildings and infrastructure to America’s natural spaces, it may be energy efficiency that helps us return more of the night sky to its natural state".


Hoo-Boy. It's been well studied that night lighting has an adverse affect on circadian rythyms, so I'm thinking that might be classified as toxic on some level.

And as far as energy efficiency is concerned, aren't we finding it to be that the exact opposite is actually what's happening? The proliferation of LED lighting has been a boon to misers who are concerned with their energy bills, while at the same time enabling them to even add lighting to their spaces in response to security concerns or whatever. The 'full shielding' argument is a farce when you're beaming down mega-lumens onto reflective surfaces - which is just about everything other than natural ground.

My concern with the author's closing statements is that they are in all probability indicative of the thought processes of everyone other than those of us that are night-sky-aware. The fight is only getting harder.

Mike
"The purpose of life is the investigation of the Sun, the Moon, and the heavens." - Anaxagoras
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NGC7000
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Re: Map With A Different Look at USA's Light Pollution

Unread post by NGC7000 »

I agree with your astute observations, Mike. We provide remedies that create new problems, and sometimes we just have to shrug at the tyranny of the majority when a generalized point of view conflicts with knowledgeable insight.

Tom
Tom H
"Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world. Science is the highest personification of the nation because that nation will remain the first which carries the furthest the works of thought and intelligence." - Louis Pasteur
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